Category Archives: Day Trips

The original Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria used by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage across the Atlantic were common trading vessels. The Santa Maria, which Columbus never liked, ran aground and sank on Christmas Eve 1492 in Hispaniola (now Cape Haitien). She was a Nao, atype of cargo vessel. The Nina, and Pinta were Caravels, and were used by exployers during the Age of Discovery. The Pinta returned home and disappeared from history without a trace, but the Nina; now theres a woman with a past.
In 1988, an American engineer and maritime historian, John Patrick Sarsfield, began building what was to become the first truly, historically correct replica of a 15th Century Caravel, John had discovered a group of master shipbuilders in Bahia, Brazil who were still using design and construction techniques dating back to the 15th Century.
It was in Valenca, Brazil, using only adzes, axes, hand saws, and chisels, in addition to naturally-shaped timbers from the local forest, that the Sarsfield Nina was built.
Jonathon Nance, a British maritime historian and main researcher for the project, produced a sail ship, which represents the Nina as she would have appeared during the eight recorded busy years of her life following her departure from the Canary Islands in September 1492.
The Santa Clara A.K.A. Pinta was built in Valenca 16 years later to accompany the Nina on her tours of the western hemishere. Built in the same shipyard with the same shipwrights, the Pinta & the Nina are two of the “greatest ships in world history”. www.thenina.com
On Monday, November 15th, the ships will sail to Mississippi for their next stop.
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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet SAFE Patrol: 877-367-5982 Use this number to report any road hazard or concern on major highways: Icy conditions, rock slides, debris in the road, abandoned vehicles, stalled vehicles, unsafe bridges, animals, signs down or missing, lights out, suspicious persons, etc. The responders also carry equipment for some assistance, such as jumper cables, gasoline and oil, and tire repair. When you call, have location information immediately available, such as mile marker or landmark. This service is provided on the following roads: I-75; I-64; I-65; I-24; I-71, US 23, KY-80, and all the Parkways. For more information call 502-564-2080 or on the web at http://highwaysafety.ky.gov/safe_patrol.html

The Battle of Richmond Association is sponsoring a rather unique and special event during Halloween season, Professor Mortimer T. Beazley’s Travelling Hall of Oddities.

During the mid 19th century, many travelling carnivals and side shows came to small towns like Richmond, featuring spectacles supposedly from far away lands. One of the most famous was P.T. Barnum.

As a fun alternative to the scary Halloween events, Professor Mortimer T. Beazley’s Travelling Hall of Oddities will give visitors a more comedic and historic event. Oddities will include a fortune teller, Siamese twins and the notorious “Man Eating Chicken”.

The show will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm and 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, October 29 & 30, at the Pleasant View House at Battlefield Park.

Kentucky’s beautiful fall weather can only mean one thing, Its Festival time! You can take a day trip to about any Kentucky town this time of year and find something going on. There is family fun for all; such as Festivals, Hay Rides, Car Shows, or even Haunted Houses. Below are a few pictures from a Fall Festival in Versailles, KY. For other area events view our calendar.

Local Bereans attended the Boogie Nationals and brought home top honors. It was a Beautiful weekend for the 2010 Boonesborough Boogie Nationals Car Show. Thousands attended the event with over 800 entries of every possible make and model you could think of.

A wonderful weekend was had by all who attended The Bittersweet Festival in Mount Vernon Friday and Saturday. There were plenty of craft and food booths lining the street along with live music and fun activities for the whole family.

Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Louvin had a rough summer, and it has extended into the fall.

Louvin, 83, is fighting pancreatic cancer, and a July 30 surgery was unsuccessful in eradicating the disease. Medical costs are, of course, substantial, and friends are now helping to organize a benefit concert and auction in Bell Buckle, Tenn., where Louvin lives, on Saturday, Oct. 30.

James Preston “J.P.” Pennington born in Berea, KY is an American musician, known primarily as a founding member of the country pop band EXILE. Pennington was the founding member and lead singer of the group until departing in 1990. After his leaving EXILE, he signed to MCA Records as a solo artist. There, he released two singles and one album, Whatever It Takes, in 1991. Pennington re-established the band along with Les Taylor, Sonny Lemaire, Marlon Hargis, and Steve Goetzman. For a complete schedule go to www.exile.biz
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Federal Brig. Gen. John Buford is part of the “Kentuckians in the Civil War” exhibit at the Richmond Visitors Center. In honor of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, the Battle of Richmond Visitors Center has opened its “Kentuckians in the Civil War” exhibit.
The exhibit consists of portraits of native Kentuckians who rose to prominence as Civil War generals, both Union and Confederate.
The first set of portraits include Federal generals Thomas Crittenden, Robert Anderson and John Buford, along with Confederates John Bell Hood, Albert Sidney Johnston and John C. Breckinridge. Other notables, such as Confederate Simon Boliver Buckner, will be added during the exhibits run. The center also received a donation of a replica of Abrahams Lincoln’s watch. The piece, donated by a local supporter, is set to 7:22, reflective of the time Lincoln died after being mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth.The center is currently open 10 AM – 4 PM Monday through Saturday, and 1 PM to 4 PM on Sunday.

The 2010 Richmond POW WOW was a huge success. Hundreds attended the three day event. Start making plans for 2011 Richmond POW WOW to be held at Battlefield Park the last weekend in September.
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There isn’t any aspect of American history or growth more important than Railroads. Railroads have seen Americans through the addition of nearly every state, promoted a unified nation, aided us in times of war and allowed people to travel unlike ever before. Unfortunately the era of America’s love of rail travel ended in the 1950’s as a result of the automobile’s versatility and convenience, but now, thanks to the Kentucky Railway Museum, it is possible to experience it again. Continue reading KY Railway Museum – All Aboard for Family Fun!→

On May 17, 2002 at Renfro Valley the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum had its grand opening. The museum opened to the public on Saturday May 18, 2002. The museum is a state of the art facility to educate and honor Kentucky musicians. While Kentucky is best known for its country music, all music genres are honored in the hall of fame and museum.

The Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Rockcastle County on property donated by Mrs. Ann Lair Henderson, on behalf of the John Lair family. The museum is approximately 16,600 square feet, and is in the renovated historic Lair family barn. CMW Architects of Lexington formed the design. Hacker Brothers Construction Company acted as the general contractor for the project. Jack Rouse Associates of Cincinnati formed the exhibit design. Continue reading Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum→